Although Soundgarden are the band closest to this writer’s heart, there’s no denying the majesty and sweep of some of Chris Cornell’s other projects: the early-2000s hard rock supergroup Audioslave featuring Tom Morello; the 1960s soul-referencing Bond theme You Know My Name; the Mother Love Bone tribute band Temple Of The Dog (featuring members of Pearl Jam, who were also in Mother Love Bone), the collaborations with Eleven, Ace (Skunk Anansie), Santana, Slash, Cat Stevens…

All are represented here on this sprawling four-CD, 64-track (11 previously unreleased) retrospective, along with the tear-inducing live duets with Cornell’s daughter Toni (on Redemption Song, 2015).

He did some killer acoustic versions too, notably his reading of Jacko’s Billie Jean, throbbing with restrained power. He also did some perhaps ill-advised ones (a live recording of Lennon’s mawkish Imagine, a perfunctory run-through of The Beatles’ A Day In The Life).

The majority of this collection is given over to Soundgarden, though, and rightly so. It’s difficult not to listen to Black Hole Sun without tears welling up.

Overwhelmingly, it’s Cornell’s voice that wins through – a star-burst of a scream, a full-throated delight.

Classic Rock Newsletter

Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

No spam, we promise. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission.